"Yes, sir. The tree of life, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil." "Which tree was forbidden to our first parents?" "The latter one." "Among all the fruits which they had eaten, had they ever tasted of the tree of life?" "I don't know, sir." "Probably not; for after they had eaten of the tree of knowledge, God said, 'Behold, the man has become as one of us, to know good and evil; and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever; therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden to till the ground from whence he was taken,' and he placed 'a flaming sword, which turned every way to keep the way of the tree of life.' "Many writers consider this tree an emblem of that life which man should ever live, provided he continued in obedience to his Maker. And probably the use of this tree was intended as the means of preserving the body of man in a state of continual vital energy, and an antidote against death. "What other command did God give respecting the tree of knowledge, beside forbidding them to eat of it?" "He forbade them to touch it," answered Helen. "Why did God forbid them to eat of it, or even to touch it?" "To try them, and see whether they would obey him." "Do you not think there was some other reason?" asked Mrs. Dermott, of her husband. "It would seem God thought man really had acquired undue knowledge." "It is exceedingly difficult to understand exactly how much is here meant. Some writers think the sight of the tree was always to remind man that there was a bound set to his knowledge; that there was one thing God had seen proper to deprive him of. Others think that the tree possessed a particular property of increasing knowledge, a physical influence, having a tendency to strengthen the understanding, and invigorate the faculties. "Who tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit?" "The serpent." "By what other names is he called in the Bible?" "Satan." "Yes, and Apollyon or Abaddon. He is also called the father of lies, and the roaring lion who goeth about seeking whom he may devour. By what arguments did he prevail with her to eat?" "In the first place," answered Mrs. Dermott, "he charged God with a lie. She had said, 'God has given us every tree but this. If we eat of this tree, he says, we shall die.' But Satan said, 'That is not true, and God knows it is not. He wishes to keep you ignorant. I am sincerely your friend, and I tell you that if you eat of this tree, you will become as gods, knowing good and evil.' "O, what a wicked serpent!" cried Walter. "I should have thought Eve would have known better than to believe him." "What three reasons induced her to disobey God, and to eat of the tree? You may read, Anna, from the Bible."